Argyll and Bute Council has repeated its call for a meeting with the Scottish Government over the upcoming ban on municipal solid waste going to landfills.

Local authorities are facing a ban from January 1, 2026 and Argyll and Bute want an extension - especially with it locked into a contract that runs nine months beyond the ban.

The new ban will mean biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) can't be sent to landfills and instead needs to be recovered from what's called "energy from waste".

To vary or cancel the landfill contract would have "serious financial implications", said the council, which has faced more than a decade of real-terms budget cuts from the government.

Argyll and Bute said the cost could run to "hundreds of thousands" of pounds. It wants the ban delayed for nine months.

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The contract does not apply to waste in Helensburgh and Lomond, but the financial hit would impact local taxpayers.

And the council has set aside £3.5million to develop a waste transfer station in Helensburgh to meet the needs of the upcoming ban.

Council leader Councillor Robin Currie said: “The introduction of the landfill ban will have many benefits, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that result from landfilling biodegradable waste.

"We are working hard to put measures in place for the introduction of the ban, along with a whole range of actions the council is taking to combat the climate emergency.

“It makes sense to synchronise the date of the ban with the end of our current landfill contract. If the Scottish Government fails to grant this extension, the costs to council tax payers in Argyll and Bute will be significant, and will affect other essential council services.

“I urge the Scottish Government to meet with us as soon as possible so that we can discuss our options moving forward and agree a solution that works for Argyll and Bute.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to ending the practice of landfilling biodegradable municipal waste in Scotland in line with recommendations from the Committee on Climate Change.

“The best way to manage residual waste is to not produce it in the first place. Our action to reduce the amount of residual waste produced includes banning some of the most problematic single-use plastic products, and our £70 million Recycling Improvement Fund.

“For the residual waste we do produce, we are continuing to support local authorities, including Argyll and Bute Council, to secure alternative treatment options in preparation for the ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste in 2025. 

"This support includes providing access to technical, legal and procurement advice, tailored to local circumstances and requirements.”